Smoke Free

As the voice of Northwest Indiana's Hospitality Industry, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will once again head to Indianapolis to support smoke-free Indiana Legislation.

No matter what your personal feelings are about a statewide smoking ban or which side of the debate you are on, you cannot deny that with a smoking ban we will all be healthier.

Establishing smoke-free restaurants is the simplest and most cost effective way to improve employee and customer health. A state-wide smoking ban created for places where the public gathers, such as bars and restaurants would greatly benefit the health of all Indiana residents and would increase the amount of tourists coming to the state looking for smoke-free hotels.

In recent years, the tourism industry has seen more and more visitors asking which establishments are smoke-free. Visitors are setting the bar for the industry with their expectations. Families and businesses are looking for healthier options when it comes to booking vacations, amateur sports tournaments and events.

The facts prove that banning smoking in public places will not adversely affect business. Studies conducted in New York City and Boston, both popular tourist destinations, concluded that neither city experienced a decline in sales following adoption of their early ordinances limiting smoking in restaurants. In fact, one year after New York City enacted its smoking ban, business activity actually increased in restaurants and bars and 10,000 jobs were added.

If large cities have smoking bans and their bottom lines haven't been affected, then why can't Indiana level the playing field and focus on one goal, a smoke-free Indiana. A study comparing hotel revenues and tourism rates before and after passage of 100% smoke-free restaurant laws in three states and six cities found that such laws do not harmfully affect, and may actually increase, tourism.

The Michigan Department of Treasury reported that after the 2010 smoking ban, nightclub and restaurants saw an increase in receipts.

In 2007, Fort Wayne expanded its existing smoking ban to include bars and private clubs. One month after the ban was implemented bar and restaurant receipts increased by 39% across the county.

These numbers further show that Indiana is behind the curve. A unified approach for all counties across the state is needed. More than seventy percent of the people in Indiana don't smoke and don't want to go into a bar or restaurant and come out smelling like an ashtray, therefore the answer for a need for smoke-free Indiana seems obvious.

The SSCVA wants to continue to bring people to our state and our communities. The organization encourages you to voice your support to our state representatives and senators to vote in favor of the bill, and to continue working to make Indiana smoke-free.The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority continues to partner with State Representative Brown and other leaders of the general assembly in calling for a comprehensive smoking ban in every public place.

We believe that all employees in the hospitality industry who work in casinos, bars and other places where smoking is allowed deserve the same smoke free environment without carcinogens as other managers and employees in other smoke free restaurants and facilities.

View drone footage shot during the parade and block party for the 2014 NSA Girls' Fast Pitch 'B' World Series.

Spotlight South Shore

Northwest Indiana’s very own candy factory boasts the world’s best gummies! Tour the factory and experience your favorites being made, see the world’s tallest chocolate waterfall and sample some of the best candies around!…more

What began as a local newspaper’s effort to tell the compelling stories of Northwest Indiana men and women who sacrificed during the Civil War has evolved into a large-scale historical preservation effort. The joint partnership of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Calumet Region Civil War Preservation Project seeks to carry forward on hundreds of hours of community service that already have taken place. …more

Conveniently located between Chicago and Indianapolis, Fair Oaks Farms offers a fun family playground that everyone will enjoy! From the Dairy Adventure and Birthday Barn, to the Cheese Factory and Mooville, Fair Oaks Farms will keep the family entertained, and well-fed, for a full day of education and fun!…more

When a guest visits a hotel, restaurant, bank, or gas station, they rarely meet the manager or owner of the establishment. It's up to the front-line employee to make the customer's visit enjoyable.The R.O.S.E. Awards were created to recognize these "directors of first impression" who consistently work hard to make our lives easier. Guests & managers are able to nominate an employee who consistently "goes the extra mile."…more

Heavy industry carried the South Shore economy for decades. Now, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority tells a story about a community: it’s been built by steel but changing from tourism. Northwest Indiana’s appeal is its devotion to ensure new & already existing businesses succeed. Area leaders have teamed together to revitalize the mill towns and make Northwest Indiana the place people want to live & work. …more

Experience the journey of the Passion of Christ as never before in this interactive trail featuring 40 life-sized bronze statues. Experience the various Stations of the Cross with audio descriptions as you walk the winding pathway.…more

With five different casinos, Northwest Indiana offers much excitement and action along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan! With decadent restaurants, world class entertainment and floors (and floors) of slots and table games, your night is just getting started when you test your luck at one of our casinos.…more

A breathtaking adventure awaits at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, home to a plethora of diverse natural resources. The National Park is comprised of more than 15,000 acres of sand dunes, bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, prairies, rivers, oak savannas, and woodland forests. It provides visitors with opportunities for bird watching, camping, 45 miles of hiking, fishing, swimming, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.…more

Pierogi Fest, the pride of Whiting, is an opportunity for the residents to celebrate their heritage while poking a little fun at themselves at the same time. The one of a kind parade and festival have received countrywide recognition having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.…more

This holiday season, The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will feature 6 animated displays featuring scenes from "A Christmas Story". The displays include: Higbee’s Department Store Window, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s, the Bumpus Hounds, and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Herald Square Macy’s in New York City. …more